More detail on this person: Col. William (Bill)
Nelson Tingler, 86, beloved husband, adored dad
and Poppa, and renowned maker of ice cream, died
on March 10, 2015, in Gulf Breeze, Fla.
Bill was born to Jesse Oliver and Helen Gertrude
(Yearout) Tingler in Cherokee, Okla., and raised
in Enid, Okla. He married the love of his life,
Shirley Bell Street, and together they raised five
Army brats in interesting locales across the U.S.
as well as Germany.
Bill served in the Oklahoma National Guard and
later the U.S. Army, where he spent his entire
33-year career on active duty. He was a pilot of
both fixed-wing and helicopter aircraft, and
served tours of duty in both the Korean and
Vietnam wars, where his service was recognized
with the Master Aviation Badge and a Bronze Star
Medal, among other commendations. After retiring
from the Army, Bill and Shirley moved to Gulf
Breeze, Fla., and, since he wasn't quite ready to
spend so much time on the ground, went to work
flying helicopters for oil companies in the Gulf
of Mexico and Saudi Arabia. He had a love of
flying, and could never quite believe he was paid
to do something he loved. Bill was also a 65-year
member of the Masonic Lodge. At last count he
taught dozens of his kids, grandkids, and various
nieces and nephews to waterski.
Bill is survived by his wife, Shirley, son Charles
Tingler of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; daughter Shelley
(Bill Schukar) Tingler of Altamonte Springs, Fla.;
daughter Ardeth (Mark Punteney) McCann of
Leavenworth, Kans.; daughter April Parsons of Gulf
Breeze, Fla.; and daughter Allison (Tim) Mahovlich
of Eveleth, Minn.; eight grandchildren: Haley
(Chris) Marconett Murphy; Corey (Kevin)
Christofferson; Mickey (Ettie) McCann; Molly
(Luke) Naccarato; Helen Tingler; Emily Tingler;
William (Brittany) Parsons; and Jesse Parsons; six
great-grandchildren: Maija, Jackson and Lydia
Marconett; Sophie Christofferson; and Virgil and
Magnolia McCann; one sister: Beth Smith of Enid,
Okla.; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; three
brothers: Russell, James and Ray Tingler and Ray's
wife Berniece; two sisters and their husbands:
Agnes (Bud) Cooper and Sally (Vern) Thorlton; and
brother-in-law: Dennis Smith.
Bill will be dearly missed and fondly remembered.
A visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday,
March 18, at Faith Chapel South in Pensacola, Fla.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March
19, at Faith Chapel South. Visitation will be one
hour prior to the service. Burial will be at 12:30
p.m. at Barrancas National Cemetery NAS
Pensacola.
To honor Bill's memory, the family suggests
memorial contributions be made to the Wounded
Warrior Project at woundedwarriorproject.org.
FAITH CHAPEL FUNERAL HOME SOUTH, 100
Beverly Pkwy is in charge of arrangements. You
may express your condolences online at
www.fcfhs.com
Express your condolences in our guestbook at
pnj.com/obits
Published in Pensacola News Journal on Mar. 15,
2015
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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